Rotatable kites



F b. 2 19 3 J. E. EDWARDS, JR ETAL 79 115 ROTATABLE KITES FiledQct. 16, 1961 2 Sheets-She et 1 JOE E. EOWA/PDSJP.

ALFRED EVA/V5 INVEN TOR.

Feb. 26, 1963 J. E. EDWARDS, JR., ETAL. 3,079,115

ROTATABLE KITES Filed Oct. 16, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOE E. EDWAPRSJR OLIVER V- PH/LL/PS ALFRED H. EVANS INVENTORS.

WWW-M, BY

ATTOE'NEYS United States Patent 3,079,115 ROTATABLE KITES Joe E. Edwards, .lr., and Alfred H. Evans, Houston, Tex., and Oliver V. Phillips, Denver, Colo., assignors of forty percent to Joe E. Edwards, Sr.

Filed Oct. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 145,306 13 Claims. (Cl. 244-153) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in rotatable kites.

Rotatable air foil kites, such as shown in the prior US. patent No. 2,501,442, have been known and employ a blade or wing element of proper curvature which is mounted for rotation on a longitudinal axis, together with a :disk member attached to the blade, preferably at the center portion of the blade or wing. The curvature of the blade or wing is such that upon rotation, the forward or leading edge portion of the blade functions as an air foil, whereby as the air strikes said edge, a lifting effect, similar to that produced by an airplane wing, results; by reason of rotation which is effected by the wind striking said blade, each half of the blade assumes the proper position relative to the wind direction each one hundred and eighty degrees of blade rotation. The circular disk rotates with the blade or wing and has such diameter relative to the width and length of the blade that it functions as a stabilizer to balance the kite in flight and prevent undue side motion or diving in a lateral direction.

The economics of the kite market are such that cost is a major factor and the problem in producing a rotatable kite of the above described construction is to simplify such construction, assure its ease of assembly, permit it to be made of paper or other cheap material and yet make it sturdy enough to withstand the forces to which it is subjected in flight. These objectives are all accomplished by the present invention.

Particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a rotatable kite having an improved arrangement for attaching the stabilizer disk to the blade or wing element, whereby the device may be easily assembled and yet the parts thereof are firmly connected and capable of withstanding the air pressure forces to which the kite is subjected in flight; the arrangement also permitting the elements of the kite to be made of light material, such as relatively light paper or plastic to minimize costs.

Another object is to provide a rotatable kite wherein the wing or blade element is reinforced by a center kite stick or shaft which functions as a center shaft to which swivels may be connected to allow rotation of the kite, said center stick or shaft being secured to said wing in a manner to properly balance the entire assembly during rotation.

A further object is to provide a kite comprising an elongate wing or blade element combined with a center stabilizer disk and having connecting tabs on said disk arranged to engage and coact with slits o-r slots in said wing element, with the construction being uch that when in connected position, the surface of the stabilizer disk is substantially uninterrupted which renders said entire surface of the disk available for stabilizing purposes.

Still another object is to provide a kite, of the character described, wherein a minimum number of parts are required and are capable of being readily assembled so that said parts may be furnished as a kit which, after purchase, may be put together as a complete unit with a minimum effort on the part of the user.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference 3,079,115 Patented Feb. 26, 1963 'ice to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view of the wing or blade element of a kite constructed in accordance with the invention and showing the same in its flattened position;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the stabilizer disk;

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view illustrating the manner in which the disk is assembled on the wing or blade element with the connecting tabs of the disk in partial connected position;

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of the complete kite with the disk in proper position on the blade;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged detail illustrating the manner of forming the connecting tabs on the stabilizer disk;

FIGURE 7 is an isometric view of a modified form of attachment between disk and wing element which may be employed where the parts are constructed of a heavier material;

FIGURE 8 is an end elevation of this form of the invention;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 9 of FIGURE 8; and

FIGURE 10 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line Iii-10 of FIGURE 8.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates an elongate wing or blade element which may be constructed of paper, plastic or other similarly light-weight material. The ends of the blade are preferably curved or tapered inwardly as indicated at 10a and said blade is of a predetermined shape in cross-section. As illustrated in FIGURE 5, the cross-sectional shape of the blade is such that each longitudinal edge portion thereof is curved as indicated at 1012. The blade is preferably formed of flat material and the particular curvature 10b is facilitated by the provision of longitudinal scoring as indicated .at 10c in FIGURE 1; by bending the material along the longitudinally extending scoring, the blade is readily shaped to produce the curved edge portions 1017. When the blade or wing element is in a substantially horizontal position facing the wind direction, the forward or leading edge of said element is curved downwardly, whereby the air striking such leading edge flows over the upper curvature 10b, much in the manner of an airplane wing so that a lifting effect is produced by the wind striking this part of the blade. As will be explained, the blade rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 5 and when the opposite longitudinal edge of the blade moves into position facing the wind, the curved portion 10b of said edge is directed downwardly to produce the same lifting effect. Thus, upon each one hundred and eighty degrees rotation, the blade is in a position to present an air foil section into the wind to produce a lift. At the same time, the wind functions to rotate the blade about its longitudinal axis.

The blade or wing element 10 is formed with a slot 11 which is located at substantially the intersection of a plane through the transverse central portion with the longitudinal axis of the blade. A kite stick 14 is adapted to be passed through the slot 11 and said stick is slightly longer than the blade so that its ends project outwardly from the ends thereof. Suitable brads, staples, or other fastening means 15 secure the stick to said wing or blade element. When the stick 14 is in position on the wing element, substantailly one-half of said stick is on one side of the blade while the other half of said stick is secured to the other surface of said blade, and this arrangement balances the wing element in rotation.

For stabilizing the device when in flight, a central stabilizer disk 16 is provided and is adapted to be mountsage of the kite stick 14-.

rial and each notch i8 is cut in the edge the opposite side of said slot.

1 is illustrated in FIGURE 3. I the upwardly extending pair of tabs 21 are inserted and will be disposed at one side of each slit 23; by tem- 3 ed at the central portion of the wing element. The disk 16 has a slot 17 which is shaped generally complementary to the desired curvature of the wing or blade element so that said wing element and its attached kite stick may be inserted through the slot to allow the disk to be moved to the central portion of the wing. An enlarged cut-out area 17a at the mid-point of the slot accommodates pas- It is desirable that the slot 17 be of a width relative to the thickness of the wing that said wing has a sliding friction fit therein, whereby the shape of V the slot will assist in maintaining the proper cross-sectional shape of said wing. In practice, it has been found that by constructing the wing element of a full wood pulp paper, which actually has a grain running in one direction, the scoring may be across the grain so that bending to form the curved portions 1% is also cross-grain. This together with the central area of the wing being confined in the curved slot 17 assures that the wing retains proper shape in cross section.

For aligning the stabilizer disk 16 at the transverse central portion of the wing element, said wing element may be provided with aligning notches 18 which are formed in the edge portions of the blade.

It may be desirable to re-inforce the edge portions in which the notches 18 are located, and for this purpose a flap or extension 19 may be formed on each longitudinal edge of the wing element. Each flap is folded back upon itself (FIG. 3) to provide a double thickness of mateprovided at the crease formed at the foldback. The notches engage .the stabilizer disk 16 at the ends of the slot 1'7 and maintain the blade in proper position at the central portion of the blade. To assist in maintaining the proper position of the disk on the blade, the disk has its opposite sides abutting upset shoulders 11:: and illb which are formed on the blade surfaces by reason of the kite stick passing through the center slot 11. Because the stick extends through the slot 11 with one half on one side of the blade and the other half on the opposite side, the material of the blade adjacent the slot is upset to provide the shoulders and these shoulders, being engaged by opposite surfaces of the disk, tend to hold said disk in proper position. Together with the notches, said shoulders function to hold the disk centered on the wing.

For securing the disk 16 in its properly aligned position, a pair of securing tabs 21 is formed on one side of the slot while another pair of tabs 22 is formed on The tabs are formed by slitting the material of the disk along the lines 21a and .22a at the time that the slot 17 is cut. As shown in FIGURE 6, the slits are, in effect, a continuation of the slot 17 and thereby form tabs which are integral with disk. The tabs 21 and 22 are adapted to be inserted in tab-receiving slits 23 which are formed in the "wing element on opposite sides of the center stick slot 11; for the sake of clarity, the slits 23 have been drawn as slots but actually these slits are preferably of a width to snugly receive the tabs.

The manner of engaging the tabs within the slits 23 As viewed in this figure,

porarily deforming the disk and bending the other pair of tabs 22, the tabs 22 may be inserted into slits and each will extend through its slit in contiguous relationsite side. Each slit 23 is of a sufficient length to accominodate the adjacent tabs 21 and 22. After the tabs have been inserted through the slits 23, they are then bent back upwardly into alignment with the surface of the disk and as shown in FIGURE 4, again become a part of the disk surface so that said surface is substantially uninterrupted. By reason of tabs extending through slits from opposite sides of thc slot l7 and therefore opposite sides of the wing element, the disk is firmly anchored in position at the transverse central portion f the wing element so that there is no possibility of the disk becoming disconnected under the stresses and forces it encounters during flight.

After the stabilizer disk 16 is in position on the wing element, swivel links or end pieces 24 are pivotally secured to each end of the kite stick 14 by a suitable pivot nail or pin 25, said pivot pin having free rotation within an opening 240 in the swivel piece. An additional opening 24b is formed in the opposite end of the swivel piece and the kite string bridle 26 of a kite string 27 is secured to said opening. I

In flying the rotatable kite, the blade element is faced into the wind with one of the curved longitudinal edge portions 10b of the wing element directed downwardly with respect to wind direction whereby the wind will flow over the upper surface of said curved portion. In launching the kite, the disk 16 is grasped and is flipped or thrown upwardly to start rotation in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 5. Thereafter, the wind striking the wing element will cause the same to rotate about the axis of the pivot pins 25 and at the same time every one hundred :and eighty degrees of rotation a curved air foil section is presented to the wind to produce a lifting efiect. Thus, as the kite rotates, it is lifted upwardly and as the kite string is let out, it will rise simultaneously with its rotation.

The wing element is thus rotated and by presenting air foil sections as it rotates, it functions as a lifting member. The stabilizer disk 16 has a sufficient diameter to prevent any cross-winds from causing the kite to dive to one side or the other so that said kite rises in substantially a straight line path. Although the stabilizer disk is firmly held in position at the central portion of the wing element, it may, by reason of the tabs 21 and 22, undergo some slight flexing motion which allows it to remain centered after being exposed to a strong side current. The notches 18 which engage the ends of the disk slot 17 assures that the disk will remain in proper alignment. In actual flight, the rotation of the wing element provides somewhat of a gyroscopic eflect which will tend to hold thestabilizer disk in proper centered position. 7

Although it has been found that the proportions of the width to length of the wing element and the size of wing to the disk may vary to some extent, an ideal proportion has been found to be a wing of approximately 15 /2 inches in length and approximately 5 inches in width employed with a stabilizer of approximately 9% inches in diameter. The curvature of the wing is somewhat critical because if the curvature is increased to approach an S-shape, the wing will undergo rotation but will have no lifting eifect; on the other hand if the wing is too flat, it will lose the effect of an air foil section and will be inadequate for lift purposes. Actual experiments have shown that by maintaining the longitudinal central area of the wing substantially fiat and merely curving the end portions as shown in FIGURE 5 produces best results. Of course, it is important that weight be held to a minimum so that the disk diameter should be as small as possible without losing its function as a stabilizer member. The kite may be of any size, either extremely small or extremely large, if the same relative wing element without materially interfering with proper flight characteristics of the kite.

In FIGURES 6 to 10 a modified construction of the kite is shown. In the first form of the invention a lightweight paper, preferably a full wood pulp paper, is employed. The tab arrangement has been found exceptionally satisfactory for securing such lightweight paper without the use of auxiliary fastening means. When the kite is made of a heavier material such as corrugated paper, the modified arrangement of attachment may be employed. In this form a wing element 110 constructed of corrugated paper is scored and then bent to the proper cross-sectional shape. A kite stick 114 extends through a center slot 111 formed in the wing element and is suitably fastened thereto by nails or fasteners 115. A stabilizer disk 116 is formed with a curved slot 117 through which the Wing element extends and in this instance two tab elements 121 and 122 are formed in the disk 116 by cutting the material along lines adjacent the slot 117. Each of the tabs 121 and 122 are adapted to be bent outwardly and to extend through a slit 123 in the blade or wing element 110. Since the corrugated paper is considerably stronger, it has been found that by making both disk and blade of corrugated paper, frictional engagement of tabs :121 within the slots 123- is suflicient to maintain the disk 116 in position. As a matter of fact, the frictional hold of the tabs in the respective slits 123 allows some motion of the disk but the gyroscopic effect will maintain the disk properly centered.

In both embodiments of the invention where the kite stick is passed through a center slot, the material of the wing elements is deformed to provide the previously described shoulders or oifsets 11a and 11b of the first form and similar shoulders 111a and lllb in the second form (FIGURE 9). When the stabilizer disk 11.6 is in proper center position, it abuts or engages the shoulders 111a and 111b and these shoulders assist in assuring that the stabilizer disk will be maintained in its center position even though the kite may be subjected to considerable air currents and forces. Of course, in the second form of the invention the same swivels or end-pieces 24 to which the kite string is attached are provided.

In both forms of the invention, the kite is constructed of two basic elements, a wing element and a stabilizer disk. The central curved slot formed in the disk and through which the wing element extends is so formed that connecting tabs are provided on the disk and these tabs, engaging wtih properly located slits in the wing element connect the parts together. The device is extremely simple in manufacture and is easily assembled. It is rugged in construction in that the disk is firmly anchored to the wing element and yet said disk may properly center itself under the centrifugal force produced by rotation of the wing element in flight. As above noted, the parts may be made of any suitable material such as paper, plastic or the like, and also as noted, it is desirable to hold the overall weight as low as possible, since the lighter the weight, the more easily the kite will fly in lower winds.

What we claim is:

1. A rotatable kite including, an elongate wing element, a shaft extending longitudinally along and attached to the longitudinal center of said element, said wing element having its leading edge curved downwardly and having its trailing edge curved upwardly, a circular stabilizer disk having a slot which is complementary to the wing element curvature whereby said wing element may extend through the slot and said stabilizer disk may be disposed centrally of the two ends of the wing element, said wing element having tab-receiving slits, and tabs formed by cutting out portions of the stabilizer disk and engageable with said tab-receiving slits to secure said stabilizer disk to said wing element, each tab having integral connection with the stabilizer disk at one side of the curved stabilizer slot and having its free outer end terminating beyond the other side of said slot, whereby said tab is of sufficient length to span the slot and project substantially beyond that side of the slot which is opposite the side of integral connection 'of the tab with said disk.

2. A rotatable kite including an elongate wing element, a shaft extending longitudinally along and attached to the longitudinal center of said element, said Wing element having its leading edge curved downwardly and having its trailing edge curved upwardly, a circular stabilizer disk having a slot which is complementary to the wing element curvature whereby said Wing element may extend through the slot and said stabilizer disk may be disposed centrally of the two ends of the wing element, said wing element having tab-receiving slits, tabs formed by cutting out portions of the stabilizer disk and engageable with said tabreceiving slits to secure said stabilizer disk to said wing element, each tab having integral connection with the stabilizer disk at one side of the curved stabilizer slot and having its free outer end terminating beyond the other side of said slot, whereby said tab is of sufiicient length to span the slot and project substantially beyond that side of the slot which is opposite the side of integral connection of the tab with said disk and an end swivel piece having one end pivotally secured to each end of the shaft, each of said end swivel pieces having means for attaching a kite string thereto.

3. A rotatable kite as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wing element is formed with a transversely extending slot at substantially its central portion with said shaft extending through the slot, whereby substantially one-half of said shaft is located on one side of the wing element and the remainder of said shaft is disposed on the opposite side thereof.

4. A rotatable kite as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wing element is formed with a transversely extending slot at substantially its central portion with said shaft extending through the slot, whereby substantially one-half of said shaft is located on one side of the Wing element and the remainder of said shaft is disposed on the opposite side thereof, the passage of the shaft through the slot of the wing element producing an offset shoulder on each side surface of the wing element, the position of the tabs and tab-receiving slits being such as to locate the stabilizer disk in abutting relationship to said shoulders to assist in maintaining said disk in position.

5. A rotatable kite including, a longitudinally extending rotatable wing having swivel mounting means projecting from the ends, a swivel means adapted to be connected to a kite spring and pivotally mounted to the projecting swivel mounting means at each end of said wing whereby said wing may undergo free rotation about its central longitudinal axis, a stabilizer disk positioned at the transverse central portion of said wing, said disk having a slot through which the wing extends, the wing having a pair of tab-receiving slits located at its transverse central portion spaced from each other on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, a first pair of tabs extending from one edge of the Wing-receiving slot in said disk and having a length substantially greater than the width of the slot, said first pair of tabs being adapted to extend through said tab-receiving slits in the wing, and a second pair of tabs extending from the opposite edge of said wingreceiving slot in said disk and having a length substantially greater than the width of the slot, said second pair of tabs being also adapted to extend through the tabreceiving slits in said wing, whereby the tabs secure said disk in position on the wing.

6. A rotatable kite as set forth in claim 5, wherein the tabs are formed integral with the disk by cutting out portions of said disk on opposite sides of the wing-receiving slot, whereby after extending through the slits, said tabs fit within the cut-out portions to provide a substantially uninterrupted surface throughout the area of the disk.

7. A rotatable kite as set forth in claim 5, wherein the swivel mounting means is formed by a longitudinal kite stick secured to the wing element and having its ends extending beyond the ends of the Wing, said swivel means being pivotally secured to said kite stick ends.

8. A rotatable kite as set forth in claim 6, wherein the swivel mounting means is formed by a kite stick secured to the wing along its longitudinal axis and having its ends extending beyond the ends of the wing, said swivel means being pivotally secured to said kite stick ends, said wing having a transverse stick-receiving slot at its transverse central portion and disposed between the tab-receiving slit, said kite stick extending through said slot with onehalf of said stick engaging one surface of the wing and the other half of said stick engaging the other surface of said wing.

9. A rotatable kite including, a longitudinally extending rotatable wing having swivel mounting means projecting from each end, a swivel means adapted to be connected to arkite string and pivotally mounted to the projecting mounting means at each end of said wing whereby said wing may undergo free rotation about its central longitudinal axis, a stabilizer disk positioned at the transverse central portion of said wing, said disk having a slot through which the wing extends, the wing having a first tab-receiving slit located at its transverse central portion on one side of the longitudinal axis and having a second tab-receiving slit on the opposite side of its longitudinal axis, a first pair of tabs formed on the stabilizer disk and extending from one edge of the disk slot and of a length sufficient to project beyond the opposite edge of said slot, one of said first pair of tabs being engageable in the first tab-receiving'slit and the other of said first pair of tabs being engageable in the second tab-receiving slit, a second pair of tabs formed on the stabilizer disk and extending from the slot edge opposite the edge from which the first pair of tabs extend, said second pair of tabs having a length sufficient to project beyond the slot edge opposite to the one from which each extends, one of said second pair of tabs being engageable in the first tab-receiving slit in a position contiguous to one of the first pair of tabs, and the other of said second pair of tabs being engageable in the second tab-receiving slit in a position contiguous to the other of said first pair of tabs.

10. A rotatable kite as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first and second pairs of tabs are formed integral with the disk by partially cutting out portions of the disk on opposite sides of said wing-receiving slot, whereby after extending through the slits said tabs fit within the partial cut-out portions to close the same and provide a substantially uninterrupted surface throughout the area of the disk.

11 A rotatable kite as set forth in claim 9, together with reinforcing elements at the central portion of the longitudinal edges of the Wing, and means on said elements co-acting with the stabilizer disk to assist in holding said disk in position on said wing.

12. A rotatable kite including, a longitudinally extending rotatable wing having swivel mounting means projecting from each end, swivel means adapted to be connected to a kite string and pivctally mounted to the pro jecting swivel mounting means on each end of said wing whereby said wing may undergo free rotation about its central longitudinal axis, a stabilizer disk positioned at the transverse central portion of said wing, said disk having a slot through which the Wing extends, said wing having a first tab-receiving slit located on one side of the transverse center of the Wing and having a second tabreceiving slit located on the opposite side of said center, a first tab on said stabilizer disk formed by partially cutting out a portion of the disk so that the tab has one end integral with the disk at one side of the disk slot with its free end terminating substantially beyond the other side of said slot, said tab being adapted to be bent outwardly at an angle from one side of said disk and engageable with the first tab-receiving slit of the wing, a second tab on said stabilizer disk formed by partially cutting out a portion of the disk so that said second tab has one end integral with the disk on the opposite side of the disk slot with which the first tab is integral, said second tab having its free end terminating substantially beyond the other side of the slot, said second tab being adapted to be bent out- Wardly and engageable with the second tab-receiving slit.

13. A rotatable kite as set forth in claim 12 wherein the swivel mounting means is formed by a kite stick secured to the wing along its longitudinal axis and having its ends extending beyond the ends of the Wing, said swivel means being pivotally secured to said kite stick ends, said wing having a transverse stick-receiving slot at its transverse central portion and disposed between the first and second tab-receiving slits, said kite stick extending through said slot with one half of said stick engaging one surface of the wing and the other half of said stick engaging the other surface of said Wing.

References Qited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 160,910 Wolford Nov. 14, 1950 2,494,430 Carnwath Jan. 10, 1950 2,501;442 Donaldson Mar. 21, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 754,300 Great Britain Aug. 8, 1956 

1. A ROTATABLE KITE INCLUDING, AN ELONGATE WING ELEMENT, A SHAFT EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY ALONG AND ATTACHED TO THE LONGITUDINAL CENTER OF SAID ELEMENT, SAID WING ELEMENT HAVING ITS LEADING EDGE CURVED DOWNWARDLY AND HAVING ITS TRAILING EDGE CURVED UPWARDLY, A CIRCULAR STABILIZER DISK HAVING A SLOT WHICH IS COMPLEMENTARY TO THE WING ELEMENT CURVATURE WHEREBY SAID WING ELEMENT MAY EXTEND THROUGH THE SLOT AND SAID STABILIZER DISK MAY BE DISPOSED CENTRALLY OF THE TWO ENDS OF THE WING ELEMENT, SAID WING ELEMENT HAVING TAB-RECEIVING SLITS, AND TABS FORMED BY CUTTING OUT PORTIONS OF THE STABILIZER DISK AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID TAB-RECEIVING SLITS TO SECURE SAID STABILIZER DISK TO SAID WING ELEMENT, EACH TAB HAVING INTEGRAL CONNECTION WITH THE STABILIZER DISK AT ONE SIDE OF THE CURVED STABILIZER SLOT AND HAVING ITS FREE OUTER END TERMINATING BEYOND THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID SLOT, WHEREBY SAID TAB IS OF SUFFICIENT LENGTH TO SPAN THE SLOT AND PROJECT SUBSTANTIALLY BEYOND THAT SIDE OF THE SLOT WHICH IS OPPOSITE THE SIDE OF INTEGRAL CONNECTION OF THE TAB WITH SAID DISK. 